Sharjah rider Nadia Taryam gave the home crowd something to cheer about in last weekend’s Al Ain International Showjumping competition while Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al Sharbatly secured top spot in the Arab League standings to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Taryam won the 145cm mini Grand Prix class atop Calawo, jumping two clear rounds and clocking 32.95 seconds in round two to win the class a second faster than her closest rival, Ukraine’s Ferenc Szentimai, who placed second with Quickdiamond.

The 26-year-old Emirati earned a cheque of Dh28,750 for her winning effort. Michel Hecart completed the podium with Nokia de Brekka and the Frenchman enjoyed an incredible double with another top-three finish, topping the podium in the main Grand Prix on Iman de Deviniere.

His countryman Frederic Davis came second and Saudi Olympic team bronze medallist Sharbatly placed third on Lobster 43, which means he officially qualified to the World Cup finals set to take place in Sweden in April after he finished the Arab League in top spot.

Qatar’s Sheikh Ali Al Thani was placed fourth in the Grand Prix and will also join Sharbatly in Sweden after securing second place in the Arab League.

Sharbatly’s Olympic team-mate Ramzy Al Duhami was placed for a fourth consecutive Grand Prix in the UAE, placing fifth after Bayard van de Villa Theresia.

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